2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Moore

If that motherfucker Bill wasn't already dead and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, I'd hang him by the fucking raptors for everyone to see. How the hell didn't I know about any of this before now? I didn't even know that he had a daughter, let alone that he had her hidden here.

I couldn't give a fuck about the millions he stole from me and my family after what I just witnessed. I've never been a reckless person, but seeing that girl's terrified face and hearing her helpless scream as she tumbled into the water below, I became one.

I don't even know her name, and yet I dove into the water after her. I can't let her die this way—I don't think I can let her die at all.

It's fucking freezing down here and the waves are heavier than even I can handle but I'm not swimming to the emergency stairs until I get her in my arms.

Sucking in a lungful of air, I search harder, swimming deeper until I see white fabric floating nearby. Relieved to have any sign of her, I push my body harder. With renewed purpose, I ignore the danger surrounding us and focus on her.

As I get closer, more of her form becomes visible. Her hair is all over the place and she's slowly sinking, likely on the edge of passing out. Using my size to my advantage, I reach for her, my hand eventually connecting around her wrist.

Tugging her light but limp weight, I pull her into my chest and start swishing my feet back and forth to propel us up. I think about the fact that I could be getting myself killed, but feel less stupid when I realize that would mean she doesn't have to die all on her own.

Neither of us are dying, I snap at myself. I found her, and I'm going to make sure it wasn't for nothing.

Still slightly puzzled by my determination to save the day, I break through the surface, gasping for hungry gulps of air. When the girl in my hold doesn't do the same, I nearly scream.

"Stay with me, alright?" I grit out, tugging her along with me while I force myself through the rocky waves.

I need to be fast to get her to safety. She's ice cold and unconscious, I don't have long before CPR won't help.

She doesn't get to die, not today.

The yelling of men meets my ears and I push harder, knowing that means we're close. While we were up fifty feet before, there's a lower access point that we can use to climb up, and it seems like we're going to be met there.

Looks like my assholish nature hasn't made my coworkers hate me enough to standby while I die. That's nice.

"Almost there," I growl, arms beginning to burn with effort. The current continues to move us, but I keep fighting, inching closer and closer to safety.

Determination courses through my veins, enough to fuel me further. The storm above us hasn't cleared, the rain pelting us only adding to the obstacles I have to endure. But it's not enough to stop me.

The shouting becomes closer until it's inches away. Hard and calloused hands reach for us, swooping down to clasp around my arms so that the water doesn't tug our bodies away before I can grasp the ladder.

"We got ya!" Rob's familiar shout meets my ears. Him and three other men have all got their grip on me, guiding me to the shaky steps.

Gathering what strength I have remaining, I thrust her body up, pushing her into their waiting arms. Running on steam, I heft my body onto the platform, heart hammering while I pant, desperate for breath.

Before they can drag us inside, I crawl to her, pushing her hair off of her face to check her pulse. When the skin of her neck jumps with a weak beat, I immediately move to start chest compressions.

After seven firm pumps to her heart, she sputters. Water sprays from behind her lips and she gasps, sucking in as much air as she can manage. Rain continues to drench us and her lips are visibly blue but she's fucking breathing.

Tugging her into my arms, I lift the pair of us, not even questioning how I'm still able to move. My arms and legs feel like pudding. Even muscles made through hard labor and continuous work can be depleted detrimentally. And still, I'm able to carry her.

The group of us rushes back into shelter and up the countless stairs to a safe height from the storm. Being on the lower levels when the waves get this high isn't advisable.

The girl in my arms shivers so hard that she whimpers and I hold her tighter. When we finally make it to our common area, we're ushered toward a bathroom.

"Get in," Rob tells me, gesturing to the tiled shower. I dip my head down to squeeze the two of us into the small space, letting my knees weaken to sit on the solid bench.

He turns the water to lukewarm so that we aren't shocked with heat, but it's still extremely unpleasant. The girl in my arms must think so too because she moans in protest, digging her fingers into my chest.

"S'okay," I rumble breathlessly, trying to soothe her.

"You're so fucking stupid," Rob tells me, letting out a long breath. "I've never been prouder of you."

"C-cold," the girl whines, trembling.

"You'll warm up," he replies before returning his eyes to mine. "Jim is getting Nancy to come check on you two."

Nancy is only allowed to live here with the crew because she has heaps of experience being an emergency nurse. I've never needed her before, but I'm sure as fuck grateful she's here now.

"You s-saved me," she whispers.

Looking down at her while she's cradled in my lap, I meet those soft gray eyes and swallow hard. She's beautiful.

" Yeah ," I rasp, not knowing what else to say.

Before I can think of anything to add, her fingers wrap around the back of my neck. My brain short circuits as she tugs me down, pressing her chilled lips against mine.

I'm frozen under her touch, too shocked to move let alone breathe. I can feel Rob's eyes on us as she makes a little sound, kissing me harder before pulling back to rest her head on my chest.

"My hero," she murmurs, snuggling into me like I'm some kind of teddy bear.

The girl is clearly delirious. She wouldn't have kissed my ugly mug if she wasn't. Maybe she can't see that well with the sting of salt water still staining her eyes. Pretty little thing like her, she'd run as far away from me as she could if she saw me in the daylight.

Probably makes me a monster that I want nothing more than to press my lips back into hers and let her deliriously kiss me until she realizes her mistake.

Flicking my gaze to the side, I see a goofy grin on Rob's face, along with a sparkle in his eye. Rob has always said I'll find someone to deal with my grouchy ass some day and by the look on his face, he thinks today is that day. The old man is clearly seeing something that isn't there. She may have just kissed me, but she'll come to regret it. This isn't some fucking fairy tale, even if he thinks it is.

Even if someone as pretty and sweet as her could possibly want someone like me, I shouldn't be thinking about her in any capacity other than hoping for her safety. That's what a good man would do. He wouldn't be thinking about how she feels cuddled into his chest or how soft her skin is even when she's soaking wet and cold.

An angel is in my lap and she can't be mine.

You don't even know her name, I remind myself silently. She can't be more than twenty either—at least fifteen years too young for me. She also just almost drowned to death and witnessed her father die.

Fucking hell, this is a mess.

A small gasp sounds as Nancy walks into the bathroom, getting a look at the pair of us. "Oh, you poor things."

The nurse gets right to work, aiming the shower spray at our lower halves so she can tend to us without pulling us from the warmth yet.

"Her first," I grunt at Nancy as she tries to look me over. "She was in the water longer and she's smaller."

Nodding, she jumps into action, carefully touching the girl's face. "What's your name, love?"

"Winter," the girl whispers in response. She's stiff against me, like she doesn't know if she can trust the newcomer.

Winter.

Fuck, even her name is pretty.

Nancy nods and keeps looking her over. "Winter," she repeats softly. "I'm Nancy, I'm going to take a look at you now, okay? I'm a nurse. How old are you, honey?"

"Twenty," she replies quietly.

Shit, I knew it. I've never wished to be more wrong in my life. Twenty is too fucking young. Too young and too damn innocent to be kissing me. Definitely too young for me to never want to let her go.

"Does anything hurt, love?" Nancy asks her, examining her limbs as best as she can from this position.

Winter shakes her head, her damp hair rubbing against me as she does, giving me tingly fucking chills. "Sore and c-cold."

"Your head doesn't hurt?" Nancy double-checks. "Or your stomach?"

Winter just tiredly shakes her head, mumbling, "No."

"Is there any chance you're pregnant, Winter?"

Her cheeks immediately flush red and her eyes go wide. "N-no. Why would you ask that?"

Nancy smiles sympathetically, understanding she may have shocked the girl. "It's a standard precautionary question. I just want to make sure I give you the best care."

Winter seems to relax a bit more with the explanation in the air.

"It looks like you're warming up. We're going to keep a close eye on you for the next twenty-four hours though. We'll get you some warm clothes and a place to sleep."

"Not the closet?" Winter asks hopefully.

It takes all of my strength not to flinch. The closet . That fucker was keeping her in a closet to hide her here? How long has she been living like this? How did we miss it?

"You'll stay in my room," I demand, withholding a growl. Anyone who suggests putting her anywhere else can take a fucking swim in the storm for all I care.

Winter's cheeks pinken again. "Okay."

Yawning, she breathes out a sigh and presses her lips against my sternum. I'd drain my whole bank account to feel that again with my shirt out of the way. How the hell does this girl have me stirred up so badly after one encounter? In all my thirty-five years, no one has affected me this way. Ever.

I need to get her to the right temperature, put her in my bed, and walk away before I fucking can't. I don't know what her dad put her through before getting to this point, but I'm not going to ruin her life by letting her trade one scary man for another.